SummerWind sails home to Thomaston

Summerwind, the magnificently restored schooner flagship of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY sailed up the St. George River today to Thomaston to visit Lyman Morse, the yard where she was built in 1929.


Nancy and I were headed down river from Maple Juice Cove to George's Harbor when we spotted her passing Caldwell Island.  We caught up with her again as she approached Thomaston for the courtesy call.  She leaves tomorrow for Castine where she will join the Castine Yacht Club Classic Yacht Celebration.

SummerWind, St. George River

Slideshow HERE

90th birthday/retirement party for Thomaston boat builder

"It's the excitement and the honor of seeing one after it's built in the water floating away," he said. "You see them from the time they lay the keel till they are finished and sailing away."

When asked if he will miss it, he nodded.

That's Richard Benner on the occasion of his 90th birthday/retirement party at Lyman Morse Boatbuilding Co., the brilliant yard that dominates the harbor in the town where an Englishman first staked a claim of right to New England (first possession was the flawed theory).

Lyman Morse does it all. Most of the work is building and servicing rich men's sailboats - but it is a full service boat yard that takes all the work they can get, as the post above this one shows.

Benner is profiled in the Herald Gazette, here.

But this is Richard Benner's day and here he is with Cabot Lyman who bought Morse boatbuilding 32 years ago and has made it thrive - while doing a lot of sailing, including a circumnavigation.